Graham

YOB - Clearing The Path To Ascend I've left it too long since last listening to this gem

Sorry 😳 I was kept up by a toddler who doesn't like the heat and was a bit grumpy pre-coffee 😄

Ex Porcupine Tree frontman and now solo artist Stephen Wilson. Quite well known, certainly around these parts. I was suggesting that it seems like he doesn't like playing live, but then gets offered money he can't refuse. I possibly didn't express that with perfect clarity as last night, but I'd have thought the gist was pretty clear.

I've not read through all this thread, so it may have been covered already, but I'm pretty sure Stephen Wilson hates gigging. At the end of Porcupine Tree and now under his solo outfit he keeps inflating the fee, hoping I suspect that promoters turn him down, and then sighing and taking the money when they say yes.

Did my only August gig last night, a bit of a mixed bag. I got no enjoyment out of the first set - quiter because of the weather and I was worried about my wife who put her back out just as I was leaving the house. As usual, second set was better, was glad to get home though. For the first time in ages I used an amp and cab rather than DI and IEM, that I did really enjoy and think I will do this more often, unless it's a tiny venue.

Playing at the Download Festival is probably what I look back on most fondly. But also, playing regular, paying, fun gigs in my current band with three other people I actually like, is awesome

I quite liked the new Slipknot, certainly enjoyed it more than I thought I would - Birth Of The Cruel is a belter

Amazing, congratulations

I think there's fantastic new music out there, not necesarily in the charts, but great stuff available

Neurosis - Given To The Rising Dat opening riff

Porcupine Tree - Octane Twisted I didn't know they'd done a live recording from The Incident tour, so this is a pleasant surprise.

The thing with Lateralus is that I always thought it was an album with an incredible first half, but got really boring after the title track. However, not long ago I got told about this, which was aparrently the orignal order for the songs on the album. I was sceptical to start with, but it makes so much more sense like this.

I've put my email in to be notified when one comes into stock, as GAK is only an hour from me

35" scale, reverse P EMG, white.....this ticks a lot of boxes for me, I could maybe see my Yamaha going to part fund one at that price

I'd argue that recording technology and techniques has played a key role too

I saw Gruesome last night in Brighton, which turned out to be their first UK show. I really enjoyed myself - it was a lot of fun, plus their bassist has superb right hand technique. What I loved was a few songs in, I thought to myself "they're basically a tribute to the first three Death albums" then at the end of that song the singer said "we might tour and write our songs, but we are a tribute band to Death and Chuck" so, it's nice we were on the same page

If you can, see Tool indoors - the visuals work so much better in a dark room. They're set at Wembley Arena in 2006 is one the best gigs I've been to

I'm looking forward to the new Russian Circles album, which is out next week Their bassist, Brian Cook (who's had an amazing career) is well worth a follow if you're on Twitrer

So, it looks like it's actually happening and the 30th of August will see the release of the fifth Tool album, who's title has just been announced as Fear Innoculum Also, from this Friday almost all their back catalogue will be available on streaming sites. I was getting worried that it had got to the end of July and no title had been announced or pre-orders available, but it looks like it's actually happening

Hard work last night, was dead when started, then a few more people turned up, one of which was very extroverted and dancing and of course turned into a pain in the derrière. I suspect he'd had some chemical as well as alcoholic stimulants. Second half was better, still not a big audience, but at least an enthusiastic one

We were in Purley last night, not especially busy, but that was probably down to the weather as apparently all the pubs in the area were quiet. We must've been doing something right though, as an asian lady came up during the first set and handed each of us a £10 tip, it was mid-song (Alright Now) so hard to thank her, but it was a really nice gesture - for us at least tips are very rare, but always appreciated

What I've ended up doing is practicing at home with my backup Yamaha, so as to preserve the strings on my gigging Lakland for as long as possible, so that way I get use out of both basses

My main is a Lakland DJ5 and I take a Yamaha TRB1005J as a backup - normally stays in the car

I've been sacked, it wasn't a nice feeling, particularly as the reason basically boiled down to me not being good enough. But, when I got over the initial feelings and looked at it dispassionately, they were right - I wasn't good enough. So, I worked hard and got better, which stood my in good stead for future bands. I'm on good terms with those guys now and have just heard the debut album for their current project, which is great - in my top five albums of the year so far.